I have not run in a week

[Realfoodieclub]

It has been over a week since my last run. It's been over 2.5 years since I didn't want to go out for a run. I'm not injured or anything I just don't have the energy. One of my best friends passed away last Saturday and it's been a tough week. I have forced myself to go out and get three walks in to get some endorphins going round but I just can't seem to push myself into to running. We have the funeral this week and it's manic busy but I am really hoping by the end of the week my desire to want to run will of come back as I really don't understand where it's gone.

[poppypug Graduate10]

Oh RFC , that is so sad (((( ))))

Please do what you feel is best for you right now , this must be heartbreaking for you .

Sending massive hugs your way (((( ))))

My deepest sympathies to you and your loved ones xxx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to poppypug]

Thank you so much, hugs very much appreciated.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

So sorry for your loss RFC, not surprising you don't want to run. Cut yourself some slack and give yourself a bit of TLC. It'll come back, I promise XXX

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

Thank you. I'm sure it will.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

I'm so sorry RFC, that's hard for you. No wonder you don't feel up to running. Take time to grieve and when you are ready the roads will still be there waiting. It'll happen but maybe not this week. xxx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you, I'm looking after myself.

[ancientrunner Graduate10]

We all react differently. I am going to a funeral tomorrow - one of my school mates who died within a few weeks of becoming ill and it has all been horrible. The first thing I did was go out and run and I am going to speak to her family about doing the winter run for her. I think you will just find one day you wake up wanting to go out and shouldn't put yourself under any pressure - it's tough enough as it is. I hope it goes okay this week. xx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to ancientrunner]

My condolences. I'm already thinking of doing something later in the year along those lines. I think there will be a charity plate for a pancreatic cancer organisation at the funeral so I will make sure I take the name down for it for future reference. We feel powerless but maybe we can still help others. I hope tomorrow goes ok.

Rfc X.

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

I can understand, that's really tragic and it's bound to knock you sideways... You need to mourn and not run and that's ok... You will run again very soon. All the best for the funeral, they are never easy X

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to ju-ju-]

Thank you. I know I'll be back out there again. I just feel a little floored.

[goonkeepgoing Graduate10]

So sorry to hear your news. Not wanting to run is understandable. Be patient with yourself. I hope the funeral allows you to grieve and remember your friend. Best wishes

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to goonkeepgoing]

Thank you. Your right time to be kind to myself.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10]

RFC -- I think we are in the same boat - it has been two years since I started and I have lost a lot of my enthusiasm too. And I also can't really understand where it has gone.

You have abysmal cold weather there - we have hot/humid weather here. However I think it is more than that.

Somehow or other , I just HAVE to get this idea of pace/speed out of my mind. I think that running with others at parkrun, races and running club has caused my problem. I am sure that if I was a on a deserted island somewhere , I would just run - without any consideration of pace. I do believe that it is the pace "thing" that is weighing upon me. Last Saturday, I volunteered at parkrun - and because, like you, my running has slipped a bit and I am now pretty much only using run/walk now ( and almost can't even imagine how I ran 5K non-stop in under 30 minutes) , I decided that I would do a slow run/walk to the event as I wasn't going to be doing anything else that day. It was about 6 klms - and I made my way there, running/walking - over a "difficult" route - roads,cars, hills, badly sloping pavements, no pavements, etc - but when I got to the parkrun site , I felt really good about what I had done. I wore a HRM to keep myself slow and between an upper and lower HR number and that put a bit of technical interest into the run for me.

I know that I have not been of much help to you - talking about my "problems" - except only to tell you that you are not alone. I do want to keep up the physical fitness that my running has brought me - I just have to somehow find some way to keep the interest up - and I know I have to abandon "pace and times" completely somehow!!!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Bazza1234]

You know what before this last week I have been contemplating a lot about my running. This week has taught me I view running as a a different exercise to speed walking. I have found the energy and mentality to push myself to go for a speed walk of 7km at 9.25min/km pace just to relax myself but could not face a run. I think this is mainly because I view myself as a good walker and a poor runner. I think I now use my running for speed walking cross training. It helps to build cardiovascular muscles to make the speed walking more relaxed. I know when I made that decsion and things changed slightly, I bought specific speed walking shoes and you can't run in them so I have to make a decsion before I leave the house walk or run. I can walk in runners but not vice versa. This week I just needed a good exercise session and I knew more than anything I didn't want a bad run. Strangely enough since adopting this new regime my running pace has just got faster as I concentrate on my walking pace.?????

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

I had a feeling that your lethargy was deeper - I could identify with the 2.5 years thing and the lack of energy thing!! . I can also identify with the walking rather than running thing. 2 weeks ago, I just couldn't face trying to run 5K at parkrun - so I walked it as fast as I could. I don't really like walking much - and found fast walking to be much more difficult on my legs - but much less taxing on my HR and lungs. I completed the 5k at 9:20 mins per k . Since then I have only been run/walking at low 30/30 ratio and doing distances up to 10K slowly .

Perhaps we need to "do something else" for a while. I will shortly be confined to running on a treadmill for 7 weeks - and I am really looking forward to it!!! By the time , I come home - perhaps I will be ready and more enthusiastic to take to the road again. I have a 10K "race" scheduled for mid - March - so I am going to use the 7 weeks of treadmilling to train for this 10K. Certainly something different!!!!

[AncientMum Graduate10]

Ah Sweetie, everyone reacts to grief in their own way. The loss of your friend has knocked you for six and you just have to roll with it. The last thing you need is to feel guilt for not running. At times like this, you just need to be gentle with yourself, and promise yourself you'll get out there again when you're good and ready. Take care m'dear ((())) xx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to AncientMum]

Thank you it has surprised me how much energy I have lost. I know it will come back.

[aliboo70 Graduate10]

Sorry for your loss RFC , I think you've done well to get out walking , sometimes it's the best thing to go for a good walk and it's good thinking time, to remember and get your head around situation you find yourself in. My aunty also had pancreatic cancer and died in January, it's a hard one to beat & it does seem unfair that she went so quickly when she had so much more to see and do. It's rubbish isn't it. 😕

I don't think losing the will to run is strange at all, and it will be back when you're ready. Hugs to you x

[turnturtle]

So sorry RFC. Losing a good friend is an immense shock to the system. Be kind to yourself. You don't have to do anything right now. There are no expectations to meet. Take time out to grieve. It's not only allowed. It's necessary. x

[hilbean]

It hasn't gone RFC it is suffering from shock, just as you are. If you find walking works for you then walk instead of running. And don't force yourself to do anything unless you really feel you need to. Something like this is awful and incomprehensible in ways we just cannot measure. For me running was cathartic. In some ways I used it to escape from the world but also in some part to still be with my husband. He didn't run but would come along on the runs and do a bit of photography so somewhere in my heart and mind we had, and still do, a link to each other that transcends everything. But during the week of the funeral? There was too much to do and it didn't happen until everybody had gone home several days later and I had the space and freedom to go and scream, silently or otherwise, in the back lanes where nobody could hear me. I didn't actually scream in reality but I did sob my heart out on several occasions to the point where I was unable to run until I could compose myself. I was unashamedly a mess but it allowed me space to compose myself for everyday life.

I don't say this for comparison but just to say, I'm so sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself and do whatever helps you through the day whether it be running, walking or something else entirely different xx

[Pigivi]

So sorry RFC, losing a friend is that is really so sad. Don't feel guilty for not running, take all the time you need grief, it is such an important thing, and if that means that you don't feel like running tdon't run

Big hugs

x

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

That's lovely KK. x

[CarolStr Graduate10]

Aww RFC, big hugs ((((( )))))) Losing a friend is awful - aside from the loss I found that it made me question my own mortality (we weren't far apart in age). But cut yourself some slack, let your running grieve with you and the day will come when the sun will be shining and your mind and legs will want to get out there. Maybe for just an enjoyable plod at first, but I'm sure it will come back - just give it time. xx